Early in the year, two Lions were invited to join others from the district to attend the United Nations Event in London, it was a truly enlightening and inspiring day learning about the continued work of Lions and Leos’s across the world. 

Club members also had the privilege of going behind the scenes at the KSS Air Ambulance headquarters to find out about the work they do and how we have supported them. 

One club member successfully completed the Guiding Lions training. 

Social

Our dedicated social team organise many events, varying from our successful Charter night, with several prestigious awards presented. Change of Officers evening, President at home and many enjoyable meals. Curries, Turkish Meal, Pie and a Pint, Cheese and Wine and Afternoon Tea to name but a few. 

We have a BBQ at our Annual Heavy Horse Show event. 

We also support the local college with their Tasting menu prepared by the Catering and Hospitality students. 

We have also visited The Shard, Vineyards for Wine tasting, numerous Walks and Picnics. 

Service

This year we have continued to help and support many regular local community projects, including Imago, Porchlight, Divine Singers, Kenwood Trust, Bridges centre, local domestic abuse charities/women’s refuge, Friends for Families and individuals who have asked for help. 

We have also helped

A group of older people from our community enjoy a special lunch, a great meal was enjoyed by all. 

We have donated 3 sets of Wild Tribe Environmental Books into 3 schools in our community and have contacted the remainder of our schools in September, we will be presenting many more schools with these wonderful books in the new year. 

We have supported Wealden Sailability, a wonderful charity which facilitates disabled individuals to be able to sail with support and potentially independently. We have helped to fund a new boat repair centre, the repair of sails over the closed season and the provision of trophies to be presented at their yearly prize giving, for improvement and inspiration. 

At Christmas we will be providing our local schools with book tokens for them to distribute to those pupils most in need. We also provide food vouchers for those members of our community most in need over the festive period. 

Fundraising

This year so far we have…. 

• Held an Easter Egg raffle, supported by pubs across the area. 
• Collaborated with our local rotary to provide a BBQ at their Beer festival. 
• Held our annual Heavy Horse Show 
• This year we will be collecting at 2 supermarkets at Christmas and for the first time will be running a lucky dip at a new venue, local lights switch on. 

Membership

This year we have been trying to be more visible in our community and promote the role we play in giving back. 
At the end of our last Lionistic year we welcomed 3 new members to our Club and sadly said goodbye to one, called to higher service. 

Maureen was a Lion for 19 years and was renowned for keeping everyone in check. 

She took her role of tail twister very seriously and as part of the Social Team was always using her floristry skills to make sure that anyone who was ill or going through a difficult time received support and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. 

She was a keen florist, gardener and baker..all of which her Lions family truly appreciated. 

She was a great organiser and a very present Lion member, she supported our Charter Night by arranging flowers and centrepieces for the tables and there was always a fabulous Raffle, driven by her and her husband and fellow Lion John. 

She was a wife, a mum, a mum-in-law, a nanny, a sister, a godmother, an auntie, a friend, a Lion. 

Outside work and family and Lions Maureen had a wonderful life with John. They travelled far and wide to America, Canada, much of Europe, Australia and New Zealand and the far east. They loved their cruises and made friends with travel companions all over the country, some of whom became lifelong friends 

She loved to relive memories and relay stories complete with dates and times - she had the memory of an elephant!! 

Our Lions family will remember her and her contribution to the Community we serve, with love and admiration.